El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa fielded questions during a press conference Thursday, July 8, 2010, about the ongoing investigation into the death of Genesis Sims. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette

Sheriff Terry Maketa issued a statement Monday, responding to the prospect of handing over his office to Fountain Deputy Police Chief Bill Elder in January.

Elder dominated the delegate vote at Saturday's El Paso County Republican Assembly and all but assured that he would be the next sheriff. That victory came after Maketa endorsed Elder opponent John Anderson - and after Maketa said an Internal Affairs investigation on Elder had mysteriously disappeared from his department's files.

The rift created some bad blood, but Maketa said Monday that it won't be a factor going forward.

"As you know, my term does not end until January 2015," Maketa said in the prepared statement. "Until that time, me and my staff will continue to work on and address many important items. In regards to the eventual transition and any 'tensions' between me and Bill Elder, the transition will be done with what's best for the community at the forefront. Serving the citizens of El Paso County and having their interests in mind has always, and will continue to be, the priority in which I serve by."

Elder grabbed 724 of the 1,115 votes at the assembly. County public services director Jim Reid received 218, and Anderson, a former sheriff, took 173 votes.

Anderson didn't announce for the race until February, long after his opponents began campaigning. Anderson finished his second term as sheriff in 2003 and preceded Maketa, who is term-limited.

With no challengers from other political parties and Elder's victory Saturday, he will likely run unopposed.

"Really the only thing that could happen at this point could be a write-in campaign," said Ryan Parsell, a spokesman for the county's Clerk and Recorder's Office.

Parsell said that challengers needed to turn in a petition with 11,000 signatures by Monday at 5 p.m. Nobody had done so by midday.

Controversy arose between Elder and Maketa this year when the Sheriff's Office began a criminal investigation pertaining to a file that was reported missing by the Internal Affairs staff. The file was reported stolen in April 2013.

Elder insists that he was never the subject of an IA investigation during his 19 years as a Sheriff's Office employee.

Delegates at Saturday's Republican Assembly also voted on clerk and recorder candidates.

Chuck Broerman, the deputy clerk, overwhelmingly defeated Patrick Carter by a tally of 957 to 129. Parsell said Broerman is the sole clerk and recorder candidate to succeed Wayne Williams, who is running for Colorado secretary of state.

When asked whether Broerman would begin assuming Williams' duties before the November election as Williams conducts his statewide campaign, Parsell said that was unlikely.

"I have not seen any indication that that would be the case," Parsell said. "Wayne is still taking a very active role in the operations of the office."

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